Massage chair

ABSTRACT

A massage chair includes a main frame, a seat, and a backrest. The main frame includes a back frame configured to support the backrest and a base frame configured to support the seat. The base frame is formed by combining a plurality of structural members. The plurality of structural members are arranged on positions corresponding to edges of a hexahedron. Part of the back frame serves as part of the structural members of the base frame.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a massage chair, and more particularly, to a massage chair configured to give a massage to the back of a user with a massage head put in a backrest.

BACKGROUND ART

Japanese Patent Application Publication Number P2004-267674A published on Sep. 30, 2004 discloses a massage device. This massage device includes a seat on which a user sit and a backrest. A massage mechanism configured to give a massage to the user's back is put in the backrest.

In the seat, a cushion is arranged on a hexahedral shaped base (frame) placed on a mounting surface of the massage device. The base is composed of rod-shaped 12 members arranged at the positions corresponding to the edges of the hexahedron. Herein, the base includes two contacting members elongated in the front-back direction, and two rod-like members elongated in the front-back direction. The two contacting members are placed on the mounting surface of the massage device so as to be arranged parallel to each other. Each of the two rod-like member is arranged above the contacting member, and the two rod-like members are arranged parallel to each other. The contacting member and the rod-like member are spaced out in a vertical direction. The base further includes two connecting members each of which connects near the front end portion of the contacting member and that of the rod-like member, and two connection members each of which connects the middle portion of the contacting member and the rear end portion of the rod-like member. The base also includes an axle for connecting the rear end portions of the rod-like members.

A rectangle-shaped frame body for moving the massage mechanism in the height direction of the backrest is provided inside the backrest. More particularly, the frame body includes a guide-rail configured to be elongated in the height direction of the backrest.

The lower end portion of the backrest is pivoted to the rear portion of the seat via the axle. Specifically, the axle for connecting the rear end portions of the rod-like members of the seat penetrates through the lower end portion of the backrest in the right-left direction.

As described above, the ordinary massage chair needs the rod-shaped 12 members for constituting the base and the rectangle-shaped frame body for maintaining the shape of the backrest, as the structural members for maintaining the shape of the massage chair.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the structural members for maintaining the shape of the massage chair, while maintaining strength thereof.

The massage chair of the present invention includes a seat (4), a backrest (5), a back frame (2), and a base frame (3). The seat (4) is configured so that a user can sit on. The backrest (5) is configured to support the user's back, and a massage head is put therein. The base frame (3) is configured to support the seat (4). The back frame (2) is configured to support the backrest (5).

Wherein, the base frame (3) is formed by combining a plurality of structural members, where the plurality of structural members is arranged on positions corresponding to edges of a hexahedron. Part of the back frame (2) serves as part of the structural members of the base frame (3).

In one embodiment, the base frame (3) is constructed in a closed frame shape in a planar view, and the back frame (2) is constructed in a closed frame shape.

In one embodiment, the back frame (2) includes a horizontal rod member (23) elongated in the right-left direction, in the lower end thereof The horizontal rod member (23) serves as a structural member of the base frame (3), where said structural member served by the horizontal rod member is the structural member of a position corresponding to one edge of the front of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members.

In this case, said structural member of the base frame (3) served by the horizontal rod member (23) may be the structural member of a position corresponding to the lower front edge of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members of the base frame (3).

In this case, the horizontal rod member (23) of the back frame (2) is preferably located rearwardly than the front end of the base frame (3).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a main frame of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a back frame of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a base frame of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a massage chair of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a backrest of the massage chair of the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of an essential part of the massage chair taken along the A-A line of FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A and FIG. 2 show a massage chair of an embodiment of the present invention. This massage chair includes a main frame 1, a seat 4, a backrest 5, a left wing 6 and a right wing 7.

As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, the main frame 1 is composed of a back frame 2 and a base frame 3.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the back frame 2 includes two back support members 21 having same length and arranged parallel to each other, an upper horizontal rod member 22 for connecting the upper ends of the back support members 21, and a lower horizontal rod member 23 for connecting the lower ends of the back support members 21. The back frame 2 is constructed in a closed frame shape by the two of (right and left) back support members 21 and the two of (upper and lower) horizontal rod members 22, 23. Constructing the back frame 2 in a frame shape allows preventing concentration of stress on part of the structural members. Strength of the back frame 2 can be improved accordingly.

Each the back support member 21 has a curved portion in the middle area thereof, and has a structure so that the region below the curved portion protrudes forward than the region above the curved portion. Hold member 24 is arranged on the back support member 21 at a position below the curved portion. Fixing parts 25 are formed at both right and left ends of the lower horizontal rod member 23.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the base frame 3 has a plurality of structural members arranged on positions corresponding to some edges of a hexahedron, and is constructed by combining the plurality of structural members. The structural members include two of rod-shaped support members 31, a seat support member 32, two of front leg members 33, two of rear leg members 34, two of rod-shaped stiffening members 35, and a rod-shaped connecting member 36.

Two support members 31 elongated in the front-back direction are arranged parallel to each other. The seat support member 32 is formed in a flat plate shape. Front end portions of the right and left support members 31 are fitted into the right and left end portions of the rear side of the seat support member 32, respectively.

The front leg members 33 are fixed to the right and left sides of the seat support member 32, respectively. The rear leg members 34 are fixed to the rear end portions of the support members 31, respectively.

The stiffening members 35 elongated in the front-back direction are arranged under the two support members 31, respectively. Each the stiffening member 35 is fixed to both the front leg member 33 and the rear leg member 34. The connecting member 36 elongated in the right-left direction is fixed to the rear end portions of the stiffening members 35, and thus the stiffening members 35 are connected via the connecting member 36.

In each the stiffening member 35, fixing member 37 is fixed in the vicinity of the front leg member 33 between the front leg member 33 and the rear leg member 34.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the base frame 3 is constructed in a closed frame shape in a side view by the support member 31, the front and rear leg members 33, 34 and the stiffening member 35.

The back frame 2 is fixed to the base frame 3 via the hold members 24 and the fixing parts 25. In detail, the hold members 24 are fixed with screws to the upper ends of the rear leg members 34 of the base frame 3, respectively. The fixing parts 25 are fixed with screws to the fixing members 37 of the base frame 3, respectively. Herein, the region below the curved portions of the back support members 21 is located on the inside of the hexahedron constructed by the base frame 3.

In the above-described base frame 3, a connecting member 10 for connecting the frond end portions of the two stiffening members 35 is not provided. Instead, the lower horizontal rod member 23 of the back frame 2 is constructed to connect between near the front end portions of the stiffening members 35. In other words, the lower horizontal rod member 23 of the back frame 2 also serves as the role of the front connecting member 10 of the base frame 3. By virtue of such a configuration, the front connecting member 10, which is one of the structural members, can be eliminated, and thereby weight of the main frame 1 can be reduced while maintaining strength of the main frame 1.

In the condition where the back frame 2 is fixed to the base frame 3, a closed frame is constructed in a planar view by the lower horizontal rod member 23 of the back frame 2, two of (right and left) the stiffening members 35 of the base frame 3, and the connecting member 36 of the base frame 3. Besides, a closed frame is constructed in a planar view by the upper regions than the hold members 24 of the two back support members 21 of the back frame 2, the upper horizontal rod member 22 of the back frame 2, the two support members 31 of the base frame 3, and the seat support member 32 of the base frame 3. Because the base frame 3 is constructed in a closed frame shape in a plane view, and because a closed frame is constructed by the back frame 2 and the base frame 3, it can prevent the concentration of stress on some of structural members. Therefore, strength of the main frame 1 can be improved.

Besides, the lower horizontal rod member 23 is located more rearwardly than the front end of the seat support member 32, where the front end of the seat support member 32 is the front end of the base frame 3. Thus, a large space (a storing space 8) is formed under the seat support member 32. Therefore, a relatively large object can be located freely in this storing space 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the backrest 5 is formed in a rectangular shape in both a planar view and a front view. The backrest 5 is configured to support the back of a user by the front surface thereof. The backrest 5 includes two of (right and left) upright members 51, and an upper horizontal member 52 and a lower horizontal member 53 intervening between them. The backrest 5 is supported by the back frame 2 from the reverse side. Each the upright member 51 has a curved portion in the middle area thereof, and has a structure so that the region below the curved portion protrudes forward than the region above the curved portion, just like the back support member 21 of the back frame 2. Cushion parts 54 are fixed to the front lower portions of the upright members 51, respectively.

The backrest 5 has an opening 55 along each the upright member 51 at the front central portion thereof. A massage mechanism (not shown in figure) configured to give a massage to a user is arranged inside the opening 55. A well known one can be used for the massage mechanism. In an example, the massage mechanism includes massage heads configured to give a massage to the user's back and an elevator mechanism configured to move the massage heads along with the height direction of the backrest 5. The elevator mechanism is configured to move the massage heads up and down in a movable range (in the opening 55) along the height direction of the backrest 5, and also to drive the massage heads.

The backrest 5 includes an opening cover 56 for covering the opening 55. Thereby, it can prevent a foreign object from invading behind the backrest 5 through the opening 55. Besides, a head cushion 57 for supporting the user's head is arranged on the upper horizontal member 52 of the backrest 5.

The seat 4 is composed of a cushion arranged over the seat support member 32. The seat 4 is configured so that a user can sit thereon. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end portion of the seat 4 is continued to the lower end portions of the cushion parts 54 of the backrest 5. That is, the upper surface of the seat 4 and the front surface of the backrest 5 are constructed in a shape of a continuum curved surface. Thus, a user can sit on the upper surface of the seat 4 and the cushion part 54 of the backrest 5. By virtue of such a configuration, the user can displace the user's sitting position freely in backward and forward. Thereby, a massage can be given to a wide range of the user from the shoulder to the waist, regardless of the physique of the user. Herein, a front cover 9 is arranged so that it covers the upper surface of the seat 4, the front surface of the backrest 5, and the front of the head cushion 57. Note that, the front cover 9 is not shown in FIG. 2.

The left wing 6 includes an arm rest 61, and forms the left side of the massage chair. The right wing 7 includes an arm rest 71, and forms the right side of the massage chair.

For example, a foot massage device 81 can be arranged in the storing space 8 formed under the seat support member 32. The foot massage device 81 may be configured so that it can be taken in and out in backward and forward, and can be stored in the storing space 8 when it is not used. Herein, there exists no connecting member 10 in the storing space 8. Therefore, the connecting member 10 does not interrupt when taking in or out the foot massage device 81 from the storing space. This makes it possible to prevent the complexity of an operating mechanism for taking in and out the foot massage device 81. Therefore, total weight of the massage device can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, namely claims. 

1. A massage chair comprising: a seat on which a user can sit; a backrest in which a massage head is put, said backrest being configured to support the user's back; a base frame configured to support the seat; and a back frame configured to support the backrest, wherein the base frame is formed by combining a plurality of structural members, said plurality of structural members being arranged on positions corresponding to edges of a hexahedron, and wherein part of the back frame serves as part of the structural members of the base frame.
 2. The massage chair as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base frame is constructed in a closed frame shape in a planar view, and wherein the back frame is constructed in a closed frame shape.
 3. The massage chair as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back frame includes a horizontal rod member elongated in the right-left direction, in the lower end thereof, and wherein the horizontal rod member serves as a structural member of the base frame, said structural member served by the horizontal rod member being the structural member of a position corresponding to one edge of the front of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members.
 4. The massage chair as set forth in claim 3, wherein said structural member of the base frame served by the horizontal rod member is the structural member of a position corresponding to the lower front edge of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members.
 5. The massage chair as set forth in claim 4, wherein the horizontal rod member of the back frame is located rearwardly than the front end of the base frame.
 6. The massage chair as set forth in claim 2, wherein the back frame includes a horizontal rod member elongated in the right-left direction, in the lower end thereof, and wherein the horizontal rod member serves as a structural member of the base frame, said structural member served by the horizontal rod member being the structural member of a position corresponding to one edge of the front of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members.
 7. The massage chair as set forth in claim 6, wherein said structural member of the base frame served by the horizontal rod member is the structural member of a position corresponding to the lower front edge of the hexahedron constructed by the structural members.
 8. The massage chair as set forth in claim 7, wherein the horizontal rod member of the back frame is located rearwardly than the front end of the base frame. 